Dual agent firefighting nozzle and apparatus



June 10, 1969 M. LAMBERT ET AL 3,448,809

DUAL AGENT FIREFIGHTING NOZZLE AND APPARATUS Sheet Filed April 5, 1967.7 w i M m m N 7 4 6 muaw U M12 3 m w Lm wwfi A wm MMM W Y B June 10,1969 v M. LAMBERT ETAL 3,448,809

DUAL AGENT, FIREFIGHTING NOZZLE AND APPARATUS Filed April 3, 1967 Sheet3 of 2 Mayo/v LHMEERT 72/0/1445 GYM/HER [AP/7 Lil/1.051?

aw M4145,

US. Cl. 169-15 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The apparatusincludes a pair of tubular members vertically aligned at one end and inhorizontal alignment at the opposite end. The members are provided withnozzles at said opposite end, one being for the spraying of dry powderand the other for a compatible foam. The foam nozzle is directedsomewhat upwardly and is positioned slightly forward of the powdernozzle. The tubular members carry handles or pistol grips which areseparated in a lengthwise direction thus permitting ease of operationand minimizing any safety hazards. Additionally, the members havetherein valve means for selectively controlling the passage of materialtherethrough. When the apparatus is attached to sources of bothfirefighting powder and foam it provides for the simultaneousapplication of both powder and foam to a liquid hydrocarbon rfirewithout interference therebetween.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Field of invention This invention relates" toapparatus for the delivery of fire-extinguishing agents to liquidhydrocarbon fires. More particularly, it relates to a novel nozzle andhandling arrangement for powder and foam agents wherein both agents maybe applied to the fire with a maximum of extinguishment in a minimumtime. Additionally it relates to a highly maneuverable apparatus capableof safe use in confined spaces.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART In prior firefighting apparatus of the typewhich delivers both dry and foam agents, the arrangement of the elementshas extensively limited the maneuverability of the operator in that itwas both heavy and bulky. These limitations, additionally make the useof these devices within limited or confined spaces impractical and insome cases extremely dangerous. A problem always present with this typeof firefighting equipment is that the firefighter could easily betrapped between the nozzles and the two supply hoses should it benecessary for him to quickly abandon the equipment and retreat from thetfire area. I

Relating now to the fire-extinguishing ability of :prior devices wheretwo' diiferent agents are employed, it has been known that by deliveringthe agents almost simultaneously extremely rapid extinguishment occurs.However, several unsolved problems have not permitted a satisfactorysolution. One of the major difliculties is that the application of thefoam to a liquid hydrocarbon fire produces spattering and vaporization.Also where the wetting of the dry powder by the foam occurs the twonozzles have been physically separated which in turn requires the UnitedStates Patent "Ice operator to exercise undue strain in directing theagents on the fire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention encompasses a structure whichincludes a pair of nozzles for dispensing firefighting agents. Thesenozzles are arranged in proximate horizontal alignment with the foamnozzle slightly forward and directed somewhat upwardly. The conduits forthe agents are disposed in vertical alignment at the end opposite thataifixed to the nozzles to facilitate handling, safety andmaneuverability. Handles with triggers are carried by the conduitmembers, with the handles distal from one another.

An object of this invention is to provide an efficient, reliable, lowcost firefighting apparatus which is capable of rapidly extinguishing afluid hydrocarbon fire through the simultaneous use of both foam andpowder agents.

Another object is to provide a dual nozzle firefighting apparatus whichis easily maneuverable, lightweight, capable of use in confined orlimited areas, and may be readily abandoned by the operator withoutimpairing his physical safety.

A further object is to provide a firefighting apparatus having a noveldual nozzle arrangement so as to properly dispense a powder and a foamagent without the necessity of reaiming the apparatus for each agent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment made in accordance withthe principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrating thedetail construction thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the foam and powder supply systemsattached to the dual nozzle gun.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention shown in FIG. 1, a pair of tubular conduits 10 and 11 aredisposed in aligned vertical relation and jointly supported proximatetheir input ends 12 and 13 by a vertical bracket 14. The conduits areprovided with appropriate fittings 15 and 16 to facilitate connection tosources of firefighting agents. The conduits 10 and 11 remain invertical alignment for approximately one-half the lengths and then at 17extend in diverging directions with the dry powder conduit 10 directeddownwardly so as to be in approximate horizontal alignment with the foamconduit 11. Affixed to the ends of these conduits are the dry powdernozzle 18 and the foam nozzle 19. The nozzles are of the standard designand are presently available from various commercial suppliers and mam1-facturers. The nozzles are held relative to one another by a forwardbracket 20 with the foam nozzle directed upwardly at approximately 30and extending beyond the end of the powder nozzle.

Pistol type handle grips 21 and 22 are provided. One grip 21 disposedforward of the other. Thus a balanced and relatively comfortable support(and control is attained. This permits the device to be held under onearm and directed therefrom without having to hold the .apparatus infront of the firefighter. Each trigger 23 and 24 is attached to a valveand is positioned proximate each handle so as to control the passage ofthe firefighting agent in each of the conduits and is readily operable.

The dual agent gun illustrated in detail in FIG. 2 is similar to that ofFIG. 1 except that an arm rest 25 and right angle couplings 26 and 27,which include swivel joints, have been attached to the ends 15 and 16 ofthe conduits. Two distinct features of the embodiment are readilyascertainable. The first is evident in that the foam nozzle is inclinedaproximately 30 with respect to the horizontal and the powder nozzle.Secondly, the foam nozzle is slightly forward of the powder nozzle withregard to a horizontal plane. These features, in combination, providethis gun with the capability of dispensing on a fire both a dry and afoam agent.

As a general characteristic, firefighting foams and dry powder chemicalagents are complementary in their use on hydrocarbon fluid fires.Potassium bicarbonate dry chemical (Purple K) provides the fastestknockdown and extinguishment but does not afford protection againstreignition. Foam, on the other hand, has the inherent ability to sealand thereby prevent fire refiash. However, this agent is relatively slowin extinguishment. Combined agent attack, using Purple K to effect rapidextinguishment, and the foam to blanket the burning fuel appear topresent outstanding characteristics. Until recently these two agentswere incompatible since the foam blanket was rapidly destroyed by thepresence of the dry powder.

There are now commercially available, foams which can be employed withPurple K. One of these, manufactured by the National Foam Systems, Inc.of West Chester, Pa, and designated as Aer-O-Foam XL6, is a proteinformulation containing oleophobic fluorinated compounds. It is inert tothe bicarbonate salts, fluidizing agents and dyes in the dry powder.

The dual agent firefighting apparatus of this invention requires onlyone operator for both sequential and simultaneous application of foamand dry chemical. The apparatus can be fabricated of aluminum with twoseparate nozzles, one for foam and the other for dry powder. The agentflow from each nozzle is controlled by a pistol type squeeze griptrigger valve. These nozzles are located in side-by-side relation withthe foam nozzle slightly forward and inclined upward about 30 degrees.The foam nozzle is disposed forward of the powder nozzle to thus preventwetting of the powder nozzle thereby during foam application. Theinclination of the foam nozzle provides gentle application with aminimum of foam spattering impingement into the burning fuel. Thisprevents agitation of the fuel and decreases the chances of intensifyingthe burning of the fuel by submergence of the foam below the fuelsurface. The trigger valves, controlling the foam and powder nozzles,are relatively in line with one another with the foam valve aft of thepowder valve. The dry powder is delivered through the powder nozzlechamber whose top has a number of orifices arranged to produceindividual streams of powder which impinge on the inner walls thereof.The streams are directed forward to emerge and combine outside of thenozzle to form a high intensity dry powder stream. The foam-liquidsolution is delivered to the foam nozzle which is provided with astandard fog foam tip and a double layer screen. Jets of foam-liquidsolution pass through the orifices in the tip and collide with eachother while impinging on the nozzle screen. The resulting turbulencecauses air to be entrained and mixed with the solution thereby forming afoam stream with a dispersed pattern.

Thus, the dual agent gun is compact, maneuverable and easy to operate.It readily permits entry into confined spaces such as thus aboard anaval vessel. Since the unit is designed to be operated underneath onearm of the firefighter and on one side of his body, the apparatus can beeasily discarded in an emergency when the firefighter is forced toretreat from the fire area without danger of his being trapped betweenthe gun and the fire hoses connected to it.

FIG. 3, for illustrative purposes, shows the equipment used inconjunction with the dual gun as a total system. The two basic sourcesof firefighting agents comprise a tank of liquid foam 30 and a drypowder container 31 coupled with a nitrogen cylinder 32. The liquid foamconcentrate agent and water are fed via hoses 33 and 34 into a foamliquid proportioner 35 wherein the proper mixture is generated and fedthrough hose 36 to the foam conduit 11. The dry powder under pressuresupplied by the nitrogen is applied via hose 37 to conduit 10. As shown,the foam spray is ejected at a slight upward angle so that it falls onthe burning surface without excessively disturbing it and does not wetthe dry powder at the nozzles. This dual gun firefighting apparatusprovides a vastly improved means for rapid and safe control and securityof flammable liquid fuel fire situations. The combined use of acompatible foam and dry powder chemical on hydrocarbon fires results inthe optimum utility of the inherent advantages of each of these agents.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials andarrangements of parts (and steps), which have been herein described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be madeby those skilled in the tart within the principle and scope of theinvention.

We claim:

1. Firefighting apparatus comprising means for delivering, separately, afirefighting dry powder agent and a firefighting liquid foam compatibletherewith,

a foam generating nozzle affixed to the end of said means for deliveringand directing upwardly a foam spray, and

a dry powder nozzle affixed to said powder delivering means disposed aftof said foam nozzle, said means for delivering comprising a pair ofhollow tubular members vertically aligned upstream of said nozzles andin horizontal alignment at the nozzle end.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including bracket meanssecuring said tubular members in spaced relation.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further including a valvedisposed in each of said tubular members and controlled by a triggerextending outward of said member,

grip means carried by each of said tubular members proximate saidtrigger.

4. Firefighting apparatus which comprises a pair of spaced apart hollowtubular members being vertically aligned at one end and in horizontalalignment at the opposite end,

a foam generating nozzle affixed to one of said members at said oppositeend and directed vertically upwardly at an angle of approximately 30with the horizontal,

a dry powder nozzle aflixed to the other of said members at saidopposite end and disposed aft of said foam nozzle,

a valve and trigger for control thereof carried by each of said membersdistal lengthwise along said members, and

pistol grip means disposed proximate each of said triggers for holdingsaid apparatus.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1966 Tuve et al. 7/1952 Freemanl69l5 US. Cl. X.R.

